The Q5, launched in the city yesterday, is all about luxury. At showroom prices starting from Rs 39 lakh, the car's like a very well-furnished apartment on four wheels
The Q5, launched in the city yesterday, is all about luxury. At showroom prices starting from Rs 39 lakh,u00a0 the car's like a very well-furnished apartment on four wheels
Audi's Q5, the luxury SUV small enough to be driven in city traffic, glided out on Bangalore's roads yesterday.
Aiming to compete with the BMW X3, Audi describes its new baby as a luxury off road car that provides a sporty look and is agile on the road.
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Ready to rule the roads:u00a0 K Subramanian, CEO of Audi, Bangalore, and Martin Birkner, head of marketing, Volkswagen Group Sales India, with the new Audi Q5u00a0PIC/ SATISH BADIGER |
With a showroom price of Rs 39 lakh (add some 20 per cent for the on road price), the car is clearly not for the ordinary man. And if you want the diesel version, it's a showroom price of Rs 46 lakh (Rs 52 to 53 lakh on the road) that you'll have to pay to drive your new toy.
Of the eight units Audi had ordered for the Bangalore launch, six have been booked already.
K Subramanian, CEO of Audi in Bangalore, expects to sell around 15 or 16 units this month. The rhythm of sales should then slow down to 3 or 4 units every month, he said.
"Everybody who owns an Audi is a celebrity," he said.
Audi fans
Puneet Rajkumar is a celebrity who owns an Audi. Present at the launch yesterday, he told MiD DAY: "I'm a proud Q7 owner." Puneet, who's owned the car for two years, says he's absolutely satisfied.
Fashion designer Ramesh Dembla was especially impressed by the car's interiors. "It's like sitting in a very well-furnished apartment," he told MiD DAY. Dimla owns a Mercedes but said, "I'm definitely interested in this car."
Laila Baker, CEO of indiabuggy.in, bought her first Audi 21 years ago. "Audi is the best car to own if you have a family," she said, adding, "Considering all the speed bumps in the streets of Bangalore, this car would be useful."
Future plansMartin Birkner, head of marketing, Volkswagen Group Sales India, expects to sell 100 units across India this year and between 400 to 500 next year.
Birkner said India was the fastest-growing market in the world at the moment. "Even though the sales volumes are still low, the potential of growth is there. India is definitely one of our focus markets," Birkner said.
The Audi Q5 Inspired by its "big brother", the Q7, Audi Q5 comes in a 211-bhp, 2-litre turbo-petrol engine version or a 240-bhp, 3-litre turbo-diesel version.
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The car is equipped with luxury features such as a parking system with a rearview camera, surround sound system, panoramic glass roof and LED lights.
